Yet another interesting feature of Windows 10 Anniversary Update has been spotted by users. When a stop error occurs, commonly known as a BSOD or Blue Screen of Death, it will show a QR code which can be read with a compatible device like a smartphone. When you scan the QR code on your companion device, the troubleshooting page for that particular BSOD's error description will be opened automatically.
Currently, when a system error occurs, Windows 10 shows a sad smiley face with very few details about the error. The most useful information is the error code. It is intended to inform the user what happened and what he should do to troubleshoot the issue. The user is supposed to note the code and search for information online.
When you reboot to search about it, you can easily forget the error code. The QR code should simplify this process because it can open the appropriate web page on another device you used to read it. The updated BSOD also tells the URL the user should open manually to get help. The text near the QR code says:
For more information about this issue and possible fixes, visit: http://windows.com/stopcode
If you call a support person, give them this info:
Stop code: ERROR_CODE_HERE
The QR code feature on a BSOD screen makes it easy for users without deep technical knowledge of Windows to look up why a bug check (BSOD) is occuring. It can help them to find a fix for their issue much faster(via). It is not known when exactly this feature will be available for end users, however, it is possible that it will be rolled out with Windows 10 Anniversary Update, i.e. July 2016.
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This could actually be a useful feature if they actually finish implementing it. One time I had a BSOD and, after rebooting, went to look it up. I found a guy who had a similar problem and posted it on the MS Answers forum. A Microsoft Expert suggested that he capture a screenshot of the BSOD. O_O
Why can’t they just tell you what’s wrong on the freaking blue screen? QR, seriously? So, every time you see one of these things you’ve got to rush for your phone to take a shot while the dumping timer is counting down, huh? It is not the root of the evil, though. The way I see it, you would’t put a thing like this on something one should rarely see. Capish?
Next logical step – add halfscreen ads and pink pony in the upper right corner to make user experience with BSOD even more friendly. Then it would be to mix in some forceful occasional crushes.
L O L MS made my day, as usual
If they could tell you what’s wrong there wouldn’t be a BSOD.
A BSOD is the definition of an unknown and unpreventable error. They can’t tell you what happened, other than some hardware malfunction or something similar like that.
The only information that can be accessed at this point are the contents of the memory and the cpu registers. That’s it. You can’t get much information out of that.
It would be awesome if the page the QR code took you to was actually helpful in any type of way. Instead you get a generic “Sorry Your Computer Crashed” type of page. Why not take you to a page that lists some steps to fix that issue, or even a search box to learn more information about that BSOD.